Mar 18, 2020 And once you lock it, you’ll be prompted to enter the password to reopen it on your Mac and other devices. If you use your Apple Watch to unlock passwords on your Mac, you have that option as well. There is currently no way to retrieve a forgotten note password. So be sure to use a password you’ll remember or keep it somewhere safe. On your Apple Watch, press and hold the long flat button next to the Digital Crown, then swipe Power Off. After your Apple Watch finishes powering down, press the long button again to turn it back on.
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When the Apple Watch's Auto Unlock works, it's magical. You open or approach your Mac while wearing your Apple Watch and, instead of having to type in your — hopefully long, strong — password, it just logs you in. No fuss. No muss.
But when it's not working, you might feel anger, frustration, blame, recriminations, along with having to type in that — hopefully long, strong — password. Not so much fun.
So what can you do when Auto Unlock doesn't work? Here's an in-depth guide to help you out.
Some basic Auto Unlock troubleshooting
If you can't enable Auto Unlock (or it was working, but stopped), here are a few of more obvious problems we've run across:
- Your Mac is not compatible: Remember, to use Auto Unlock, you must have a 2013 Mac or newer.
- Your software isn't compatible: If you own an Apple Watch Series 0, 1, or 2, you'll need watchOS 3 or later and macOS Sierra or later to use Auto Unlock; the Apple Watch Series 3 requires watchOS 4 and macOS High Sierra or later.
- You don't have two-factor authentication enabled for iCloud: Either you never enabled two-factor authentication, or you still have Apple's older two-step verification procedure enabled instead.
- Your Mac and Apple Watch are signed into different iCloud accounts: Make sure your devices are both signed in with the same Apple ID.
- Your Apple Watch or Mac don't have a passcode enabled: Both devices should have a default passcode enabled to use Auto Unlock — otherwise, what are you unlocking?
You can also check your setup process and make sure everything's still working there:
These quick fixes fail to address your issue? Check out our more in-depth troubleshooting options below.
Is Automatic Login enabled?
If so, you should disable it.
- Click on the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your screen.
- Select System Preferences from the drop-down menu.Source: iMore
- Click on Users & Groups.
- Click the lock to make changes.
- Enter your system administrator password.
- Click on Login Options.
- Select Off from the Automatic login menu.Source: iMore
Apple Watch Not Unlocking Macbook
Is your Apple Watch paired correctly?
This has happened to iMore staffers before: Editor Lory Gil had forgotten to pair her existing Apple Watch with her new iPhone, which momentarily broke Auto Unlock.
Reset the radios
Auto unlock requires Bluetooth 4.2 and Wi-Fi to be up and running on both your Apple Watch and Mac in order to work. If one or both radios have been turned off on one or both devices, or somehow stopped responding, Auto Unlock will likewise stop working. Cycling them can sometimes jump start everything back into action.
On your Apple Watch:
- Swipe up from the watch face to bring up control center.
- Tap the Airplane Mode button to turn all radios off. (It'll turn yellow when they're off.)
- Tap the Airplane Mode button to turn all the radios back on. (It'll go back to black and gray when they're on.)Source: iMore
On your Mac:
- Click on the Bluetooth icon in the menubar.
- Click on Turn Bluetooth Off.
- Click on the Bluetooth icon in the menubar again.
- Click on Turn Bluetooth On.Source: iMore
- Click on the Wi-Fi icon in the menubar.
- Click on Turn Wi-Fi Off.
- Click on the Wi-Fi icon in the menubar again.
- Click on Turn Wi-Fi On.App change space key on mac. Source: iMore
Once you're done, try auto-unlock again. If it works, great. If not, keep reading.
Reboot everything
The next thing to try is a hard reset. Make all the 'reboot Windows' jokes you want but it's a cliche for a reason!
![Unlock Unlock](https://static.makeuseof.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/apple-watch-unlock-670x335.jpg)
![Apple Watch To Unlock Your Mac Using An App Apple Watch To Unlock Your Mac Using An App](/uploads/1/2/6/4/126485989/317621742.jpg)
On your Apple Watch:
- Press an hold the Digital Crown and Side button at the same time.
- Keep holding them down until you see the Apple logo.
On your Mac:
- Click on the Apple button on the menubar.
- Click on Restart..
Once you've rebooted, auto-unlock will be temporarily disabled. Enter your password to re-enable it. Then let your Mac sleep and try auto-unlock again.
Check for updates
Apple's Bluetooth and Wi-Fi stacks—the set of software that controls the radios—aren't without occasional quirks. Sometimes, new versions of watchOS or macOS introduce compatibility problems; other times, they fix them. If you're having Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity problems, you're better off updating than not. If it's already broken, the update is your chance for a fix.
On your iPhone:
- Launch the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Tap on the My Watch tab at the bottom.
- Tap on General.
- Tap on Software Update.
- If there's an update available, tap to install it.Source: iMore
On your Mac:
- Launch the Mac App Store.
- Click on the Updates tab, top left.
- If there's a macOS software update available, click to install it.Source: iMore
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Once you're done updating, try to use auto-unlock again — after you've logged in follow with a reboot to re-enable it! If it works, awesome. If not, there's even more to try!
Re-pair your Apple Watch
Re-pairing your Apple Watch is a huge pain, but if something has gone wrong with the connection between your iPhone and Apple Watch, secure information won't be transmitted properly, and that will stop auto-unlock dead.
- Launch the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Tap on the My Watch tab at the bottom.
- Tap on (Name)'s Apple Watch at the top.
- Tap on the Info button on the right. (Looks like an i.)
- Tap on Unpair Apple Watch.Source: iMore
Once your Apple Watch has been unpaired, repeat the pairing process, restoring from your most recent backup. You'll have to re-enable Auto Unlock in your Mac's System Preferences again, but once that's done, auto-unlock should be back up and running. If not, you have one option left..
Contact Apple
Sometimes a problem really is a problem. Like any electronics, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi radios and the various connections to them can have problems. If you have AppleCare+, don't walk, run to your local Apple Store to get it looked at.
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Other questions?
Let us know below.
Updated December 2019: Updated to reflect macOS Catalina and watchOS 6. https://celestialdeep558.weebly.com/free-mtd-bridging-software-for-mac.html.
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Use Apple Watch To Unlock Mac
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Discord appears to be down worldwide due to some kind of outage. The team at Discord has acknowledged the issue, and promises that a fix is on the way.
Auto Unlock works when you're wearing your unlocked watch and are very close to your Mac. If necessary, move your watch a little closer.
Can't Unlock Apple Watch
How to automatically log in
This feature gives you instant access to your Mac when you're wearing your Apple Watch. Just wake up your Mac and you’re ready to go—without typing a password.
The first time you log in after you turn on, restart, or log out of your Mac, you must log in by entering your password manually. After that, Apple Watch logs in for you.
How to approve other password requests
You can also use your Apple Watch to approve other requests to enter your administrator password. This feature requires watchOS 6 and macOS Catalina. It works anywhere you need to type your Mac password, such as when viewing passwords in Safari preferences, unlocking a locked note, approving an app installation, or unlocking settings in System Preferences.
For example, when you click the lock to make a change in System Preferences, your Mac prompts you to approve with Apple Watch or Touch ID:
To automatically enter your password without having to type it, just double-click the side button on your Apple Watch:
How to set up Auto Unlock
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- Make sure that your Mac and Apple Watch meet the system requirements for Auto Unlock.
- Make sure that your devices are set up as follows:
- Your Mac has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on.
- Your Mac and Apple Watch are signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID, and your Apple ID is using two-factor authentication.
- Your Apple Watch is using a passcode.
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Security & Privacy. Select ”Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac” or ”Allow your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac.”
If you're not sure whether your Mac supports Auto Unlock, press and hold the Option key while choosing Apple menu > System Information. Select Wi-Fi in the sidebar, then look for ”Auto Unlock: Supported” on the right:
Learn more
If you're having difficulty getting Auto Unlock to work, try these solutions:
- In Security & Privacy preferences, deselect ”Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac” or ”Allow your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac.” Then restart your Mac and turn this setting back on.
- Make sure that your Mac isn't using Internet sharing or screen sharing.
Learn about more Continuity features for your Apple devices.